All master's programs at Parks College will satisfy the general requirements and review procedures. The minimum requirements for all degrees are 30 credits of courses, including 0-9 credits for Thesis or Project. Within those minimum requirements, individual faculty mentors may impose additional requirements or specific course requirements. As examples, the Master of Science in Aviation requires a total of 32 credits, and research faculty will want their students to take specific courses that support their Thesis research. The variable credits for Thesis or Project allows flexibility in meeting the needs of students with a variety of backgrounds. The traditional model for a research Master’s includes 6-9 credits of Thesis research. In Engineering and Aviation, students may prefer a lesser focus on research, and that approach is consistent with the movement toward making the Master of Science degree a minimum expectation for entry into most industries.
The doctoral degree program builds on the master’s degree curriculum with additional course work focused on the research area.
The engineering doctoral degree requires a total of 60 credits of course work beyond the BS, including 15-18 credits of dissertation. Of the 60 credits, a maximum of nine credits may be at the 400 level; all others must be at the 500 or 600 level. Those students who earn a master’s degree may include the master’s degree course credits, but not the thesis or project credits in the 60 credits for the doctoral degree.
